Email from John Kerry on Roberts

JohnKerry.com


Dear Friend,

This much is clear already. Judge Roberts is no Sandra Day O'Connor.

Last night we learned that President Bush wants to replace a woman who voted to uphold Roe v. Wade with a man who argued against Roe v. Wade, and that sends a clear signal that this White House remains bent on opening old wounds and dividing America.

There are big questions that must be answered involving Judge Roberts' judicial philosophy as demonstrated over his short time on the appellate court. The Senate must learn whether he has a clear, consistent commitment to upholding Constitutional standards like civil rights, the right to privacy, and Roe v. Wade. These issues are in serious question if you take even a cursory glance at his record.

We need to ask the tough questions to determine whether John Roberts is the nominee who will give America a Court that is fair, independent, ethical and committed to Constitutional freedoms rather than an ideological agenda, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to assure that no question is sidestepped.

Throughout every step of the confirmation process, I will keep you informed about the questions that need to be asked, the answers we need to demand, and the principles we need to defend. It's impossible to overstate the importance of this moment.

As the U.S. Senate discharges one of its most important responsibilities, I will be active and vigilant. I hope you will do the same, beginning right now. Start by sharing a few words about your personal feelings on the importance of this Supreme Court nomination.

You can submit your comments or questions here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/action/share/

Thank you,

John Kerry

P.S. In the days ahead, we'll be featuring on our johnkerry.com website a cross-section of the comments submitted and contacting you with important information and action requests as events demand. Sign up here if you want to get the latest information. Recruit your friends and neighbors, too.

sounds casual, like I will ask a few questions and we shall see..

If he believes we should ask questions first before saying no to this guy-I will take his advice.

Kerry will vote NO on judge Roberts.

My input:

1. Would he put his party first, ahead of the Constitution?

I'm very concerned that he was affiliated with Ken Starr's $70 million witch hunt against Bill Clinton. That alone weakens his credibility as a fair, impartial jurist.

2. As a former corporate lobbyist, would he put his corporate interests ahead of the Constitution? Does he duck hunt, by any chance?

Corporatism is what's wrong with our country today. It has ruled the media, taxpayers are getting the short end of the stick, etc. There's already a lot of skepticism against those in government with corporate interests; having a new, young member of SCOTUS with corporate ties is very unsettling.

3. Will his wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, have any influence on him in regard to Roe v Wade? She is a member of "Feminists for Life", a group dedicated to overturning a woman's right to choose without interference by the government.

It's already been reported that Judge Roberts himself feels that Roe v Wade should be overturned, despite the Constitution's guarantee of human rights & welfare & its frown upon religious groups' interference.

4. Judge Roberts doesn't regard the Voting Rights Act in high esteem. Why?

This is a big red flag. There is too much skepticism about the elections in 2000 & 2004, & there has been too much voter disenfranchisement going on in the last two elections.

(When is Congress going to focus on that? If Congress doesn't correct the mistakes now, the Republicans & their Diebold machines will "win" the '06 elections, locking in their majority for years to come. Look at the polls since January: Don't Bush's low approval ratings, which do not reflect his election "victory" numbers, raise a big red flag? Please do something! Now!)

5. In view of Judge Roberts' young age & that his years of service on SCOTUS would be rather long, we deserve some straightforward, honest answers about his philosophy & beliefs. Are his views narrow? Is he a fundamentalist extremist? Does he see the country as having a diverse population & that no particular personal view or belief of his should interfere with his interpretation of the Constitution?